March 2013

Tip from Your Career Advisor

ACT EARLY!

Don’t wait too long to come and see an advisor, like myself, at your Career Centre. I will be happy to go over your CV, your cover letters, networking and interview tips. And before you move on to plan B on your list of preferences of a job, work hard for a certain period of time on your plan A. Don’t give up on your dream job!

Janice Tester, Career Advisor

Need more motivation on your job search? Come and see your Career Advisor, Janice Tester, always willing to work with you on the pursuit of your dreams.

Check out the Vault Guides

Vault is the world’s leading source of career information. It will make your efforts at researching employers, industries, and career subjects infinitely easier and more efficient.

Vault also has a ton of material on finding summer jobs and internships.

McGill subscribes to this service and you can check it out today (you must be connected to the McGill VPN).

Grad Advising & CV Drop-In

Advising and CV Drop-In for graduate students is held Tuesdays and Thursdays from 15h00-16h30 and Fridays from 10h00-11h30 and does not require an appointment, but space is limited.
First come, first served.

Don't have time to come by our office in person? Then check out our online "Ask a Career Advisor" service. Click on the icon below.

For further inquiries, or to book an appointment with an advisor, please email us or call 514-398-3304 or drop into our office.

Dear MLIS students:

Welcome to our e-newsletter just for you! I am Janice Tester, your Career Advisor at McGill CaPS, your Career Planning Service, where you can find help related to your career needs. You can come and see me or one of the grad advisors to help you with you CV, cover letter, have a mock interview, or attend any of our workshops. You will find more information on our services at www.mcgill.ca/caps.

2013 McGill-SIS Career Fair

Since 2003, students enrolled in the Master of Library and Information Studies (MLIS) at McGill University have hosted a Career Fair. Over the last few years the Career Fair has given students a chance to meet and discuss career opportunities with over forty employers from the Montreal area and beyond. This is both an excellent way for employers to support the profession and a unique opportunity for students to scout for potential job offers.

This year, the organizing committee is excited to offer an extra networking opportunity to employers and students: a 5 à 7 social event will be offered following the Career Fair! This is a valuable opportunity for students to follow-up on conversations that started at the Career Fair and continue to build professional relationships with future employers. In addition, both students and employers will have a chance to explore two new onsite features: Networking corner and Get Involved Corner.

We hope that this event will help you to launch your career. Please join us on April 15 in the SSMU Ballroom!

Networking For Introverts

By Susan Molnar. M.Ed., Grad Career Advisor

Most literature we read on networking is designed by and for extroverts, people who gain energy from social engagements. Introverts derive energy internally, from their own feelings, thoughts, internal experiences. Hence, introverts can feel drained by social interaction because they get over stimulated easily and need to balance how much time they spend socializing in groups. If you have a networking event to attend, you may want to spend time alone before and after the event. Arrive early before the room is packed – it will be less overwhelming. Try to have a task – it will help ground you, and finally, don’t stay too long.

Introversion is often confused with shyness but there is a major difference.
Shy people are afraid of rejection and may want to reach out but don’t because they want to avoid negative outcomes. Introverts have social skills but may not want to use them. They prefer socializing one-on-one for shorter periods of time.

If you wish to find out more about how introverted or extroverted you are, as well as which careers might be ideally suited for your type, you can take a quick personality typing test for free at www.similarminds.com.

CaPS Resource Centre

Whether you are looking for information on a career, scholarship information, tips on resume writing, or contact information in several industries, the CaPS Career Resource Centre is here for you!
CaPS subscribes to a number of publications and online services that may be of interest to MLIS students. Our Librarian recommends the following:

So You Want to be a Librarian...Now What?: Advice and Tips from a Newly Hired Information Professional (LIScareer.com )
When my library school alma mater, the University of North Texas, announced that it would be giving a conference to help students and recent graduates with job hunting skills, I decided that, as a newly hired information professional, I had something to offer my fellow library school colleagues. http://www.liscareer.com/sewell_new_professional.htm

Books (available at CaPS)A Librarian’s Guide to an Uncertain Job Market
A compilation of 95 authors describing their careers. Each of the authors describes a "typical" workday or work routine, sharing joys, sorrows, and annoyances in refreshingly candid fashion.

Career Opportunities in Library and Information Science
70 Library and Information Science career profiles. Each profile contains a description of job position, special skills, education, and various associations relevant to each post. Appendices list educational institutions, periodicals and directories, professional associations, and useful industry web sites.

What's the Alternative?: Career Options for Librarians and Info Pros
A concise overview of nontraditional career paths, particularly for new graduates of library and information schools and mid-level professionals.

Workshops and Events

The events below are only a sampling of the many taking place. For a full listing of all events offered this month and to register, log-in to myFuture. Click on the "Events" tab and then the "Workshops/Panels/Events" tab. Select the event you would like to attend and click on "RSVP."

Job Search and Interview Techniques for MLIS students.
March 18th, 3:00pm-4:30am at your school

Janice Tester and Samantha Goldberg, career advisors from the Career Planning Centre, will first talk about how to go about searching for a job and then will develop on how to face the sometimes challenging experience of going through a job interview.

Effective Job Applications for a Career Outside Academia. March 28th, 10:00am-11:30am, Brown 5001

This workshop will help you to prepare your non-academic CV and cover letter. By attending this workshop, students will be able to:
1) Highlight relevant skills to an employer in a CV and cover letter.
2) Clearly define the essential components of a CV and cover letter.
3) Arrange and compose a professional CV and cover letter customized to the position, department and / or industry in which they seek employment.

What to Say After "Hello"? For Introverts and Other People Who Hate Networking.
April 15th, 10:00am-11:30am, Brown 5001

This workshop will identify and explore key components of effective in-person communication throughout the job search process. As a result of attending this workshop, students will be able to:
1)Approach networking with less anxiety.
2)Have ideas on how to reach out to people effectively.
3)Be aware of the impact of non-verbal communication.
4)Understand that most jobs are found through the hidden job market and that networking is a win-win situation.

This is an intensive two week program for students who will be graduating this spring. It is designed to teach you effective means of finding work in your field of interest faster than if you were on your own. The group is composed of 10 to 15 graduating students, all of whom are immediately seeking employment. You will have each other for support with the assistance and guidance of a Job Finding Club Facilitator and all our Career Advisors.